ABSTRACT
This chapter applies crime opportunity theory to the complex challenge of Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It aims to shed light on why law and policy responses have failed to have optimal effect. The chapter also aims to show that the application of criminological theory, rather than legal doctrinal or regulatory theory, has value and demonstrates the significance of inter-disciplinary approaches to natural resource challenges. It explores drivers for State responses to IUU fishing, the analysis of which remains important if greater support is to be obtained for existing international and regional law and uptake at the national level. At the domestic level each State within the Indo-Pacific has its own legal system and regulatory frameworks and these may or may not align with neighbouring states, making harmonised responses to the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate-IUU challenging.
